1 Gbit/s PSK homodyne transmission system using phase-locked semiconductor lasers

Homodyne detection of 1 Gb/s pilot-carrier (BPSK) optical signals using phase-locked 1.5 mu m external-cavity semiconductor lasers is discussed. After 209 km fiber transmission of a 2/sup 15/-1 pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS), the measured receiver sensitivity is 52.2 dBm or 46 photons/bit. Experimental evidence of the data-to-phase-lock crosstalk that potentially limits the usable ratio of linewidth to bit rate in pilot-carrier PSK homodyne systems is presented.<<ETX>>